followandreblog:

He Chose the Nails, Max Lucado

How I feel right now..

Have you ever walked into a place, see people you know, make small talk, sit next to people you thought yourself to be friends with, decently close friends with at that and yet still feel alone? No, i’m not being emotional, but serious. How can I walk into a place of believers and not feel accepted? Shouldn’t that be a place where I feel the MOST accepted? Well, it hasn’t been the case all year and I’m finally tired enough about it to blog publicly. I’m not happy with where some ministries I’m currently involved with stand. If I, a believer, don’t feel accepted, how do non-believers feel? I remember this feeling. I used to go to church and go to sunday school/ youth group and feel like the black sheep. I thought that was because I had a lot of opposing beliefs with the rest of my youth group or because I was overweight or not as rich as them or even because I was just too weird for them. I obviously don’t believe these things any longer, but I do still go to church and feel out of place. Same feeling, different reasons. All I know is because I’m not in the right clique that I’m completely out of place. I have friends who are in cliques but when they’re in cliques, I’m no longer included. A part of me is glad because I see/ hear of all this drama that happens within the clique and I’m so glad I’m not involved. With good friends, comes encouragement and prayer for one another and that’s when those friends can then extend that Christly love for one another and touch others lives. This is an unending cycle and when it ends, cliques form and people are left out. People are left to do Christianity by themselves. Guess what? YOU CAN’T DO IT ON YOUR OWN! I’ve tried all year long. All that’s happened is bitterness towards those who leave me out. That bitterness has only turned into a lack of zeal for the Word and for conversation with the Lord. That’s never a good place to be. The only times I felt encouraged by brothers and sisters is when my brothers and sisters from last summer reached out to me. They live all over the country and were able to encourage me more than those who I see on a weekly basis. The most sad thing, i’ve noticed that I’m not the only person feeling this way. It’s not the obvious people, while they are included in this group of “unwanted” Christians. It’s people who are trying to lead with no encouragement. It hurts me. It will not be like this next semester. Through Unite The Bride, I will male SURE that the unwanted Christians are included. Because Jesus would’ve included them before any one else. My intentions were not to call out people and i’ve tried to make this as general as possible, but if you disagree with something I have said in this post or feel offended, come talk to me but not out of pity or anger. Come talk to me because you want to change it, too. It’s actually happening everyday and I refuse to say otherwise. Also, I love my friends. :)

chasingphotos:

Angry Aden. #finalsweek (Taken with instagram)

YESSSS!

This weekend was literally too amazing not to blog about! So, my now two friends from Mississippi State came up to Memphis for the weekend. The plan was to have a team of ten or so to come and follow this wonderful man named Big Dog around the city to learn how to effectively minister to the homeless. Well, that wasn’t God’s plan! His ultimate plan was for only three of us to join another amazing brother in Christ name Dave as he talked to his friends. The stories from this weekend go on and on. Friday night, we met some of the guys who were on the right track to turning their lives around. They weren’t perfect but, neither am I. I have to admit that I went in thinking, “How can I help these people who have less than I do.” I quickly learned that they may have less worldly things such as a house, a huge wardrobe, the latest electronics, etc. Their addiction may have been more apparent than some of mine, but please believe me when I say that the individuals I met on the street earlier today had a much bigger faith in our Lord than I have ever had. The worst thing we can do when trying to minister to the homeless is to look down on them. We need to love, listen, and offer help. Dave said something that felt like a a huge slap in the back of the head from God. Dave told us that we all have addiction. For some, it’s drugs, alcohol, etc. For others, it’s themselves, money, love. I’m an addict. You’re an addict. We are all addicts but only in the Lord Jesus Christ do we find a different path. A path of change and love. Also, when they thanked Jesus for waking them up that morning, THEY MEANT IT! The devil is threatening thier earthly lives everyday and they know it. It’s hard to genuinely be appreciative of the breath that was given to you when you are in the comforts of an air-conditioned, secured house. When you are living under a bridge or in a tent city, you appreciate the breaths you take a little bit more. Another thing that struck me was that they were completely dependant on the Lord for their basic needs. God was providing for His people through us today. He provided food, water and the little bit of clothing we were able to distribute. We weren’t just doing “Something Good in Memphis,” we were PROVIDING for Memphis. I met some amazing people who have gone through way worse than I could ever imagine and guess what? They are praising His name through it all. Just like Job. When the devil had taken what would seem like everything away from him under the Lord’s permission, Job didn’t curse the Lord. Job didn’t question. Job praised. Job’s relationship with the Father was more important than anything of the world. I just want you guys to know how amazing this experience was for me. God’s hand was definitely in everything we did. I am returning Wednesday night to continue the relationships I built. I’m nervous and pumped! Night time ministry will be completely different and I’m ready for whatever the Lord throws at me because I know that He will protect me! God bless! :)

AW! Pugs have cute tounges.. :)

(Source: cutepugpics)

sarahashleydaniel:

Isaiah 53:5 (Taken with instagram)

The birds are singing, Christ has risen! Happy Easter to everyone! :)

I haven’t posted anything significant in a while. Just a lot of reblogging! God’s moved in my life in ways unfathomable. God has provided completely for my summer trip and is providing an amazing adventure for the next year. God is leading me to Utah. Utah! Of all places in the world, I’m moving to Utah for an entire year. It’ll be interesting. I haven’t ever been around a strong community of Mormons and due to the fact that I am evangelistic Christian, I will be in the minority. Let me paint a picture. Firstly, please do not think just because I attend a Southern Baptist Church that I claim Southern Baptists have all answers and are the best. I found fellowship that matched my walk with Christ and that happened to be at a Southern Baptist Church. In the Memphis-area alone, there are about 190 registered S.Baptist Churches. In the city where I will be attending school, there is only 1. Only 1. The average weekly attendance is 25. I’m a tad bit nervous. I know God will provide answers and the right walk in front of those who are confused. I just need to a lot more research on what Latter Day Saints churches teach so that I can counter-act that in an effective way. I need to prepare. Please pray that God will help me throughout this process.  I am meeting with a pastor her in Memphis that has experienced first-hand the LDS church. So I hope that he will be able to point me in the right direction! Also, I’m returning to the Canyon before that and I honestly couldn’t be more excited! I miss everyone so much! With all of this excitement and anxiety, the present day hasn’t become my main priority. Just keep me in your prayers, please! God bless! :)

Pray Grand Canyon! Only $3! They help provide for my summer mission trip! :) (Taken with instagram)

joshuadylan:

The worst part of the crucifixion wasn’t the flogging or the crucifixion of Christ. So, don’t get caught up in those pictures if a bloodied and beaten Jesus.

The worst was when Christ bore every single sin of every single one of God’s children. The perfect, sinless Lamb of God was forsaken by God and seen as sin for our sake.

That is why Christ called out, “Eloi Eloi lema sabacthani!”

(Source: daisiesandsunflowers)

gah, so awesome!(:

(Source: briabrew)